This is my first truck in ages. My last one was a 1998 GMC Yukon, and I never had any trouble fitting it in a standard parking space.

This thing, though, is massive by comparison. Just the Crew Cab with the 5'6" bed too. So far, I'm reduced to using the backup camera to maneuver into parking spaces because I just cannot figure out where my front bumper is, especially when pulling into a space that has two cars on either side of it.

So, any tips out there for parking the truck head-on into the space? Immediately before this I drove a 2009 Mazda3, and had for 5 years, so figuring out the dynamics of parking this truck has been a bit daunting.

 

Back in, easiest way to park any pickup. Drive past spot, look for obstructions and back in. Lots of blind space when you back out and if you use back up camera to back out you get tunnel vision, unable to see very far sideways

 

Like was said, back in. One must have when I bought mine was a rear camera. It was a deal stopper without it.

You also need to think where. These just don't fit anywhere.

-R

 

I live in a city and the parking has been fine. The backup camera is crucial for parallel parking in the tight spots. I drive a full-size van for work and my previous truck was a 2500HD extended cab with 8' bed. The body feels bigger than both of those.

As my Grandfather who taught me how to drive said; "Back it in like a real truck driver!"

 

Back to the OP's original question...

Not being a smart-*** here, but, if you're a shorter fella, try jacking your seat up, so you can see over the hood. The hoods on these trucks are pretty flat (horizontally), so by looking over the top, you should get a good feel for where the front ends, maybe a foot from where you can no longer see.

But having said that, I agree with others that backing in is the way to go. Also, invest in a $5 set of 3" frog eye mirrors, and stick them on the outside lower corners. Makes everything on the side easier to see. The factory blind spots are worthless, IMO. (on the non-tow mirrors..)

 

my grandfather always said drive it in til it sounds expensive then learn how to backup.

 

I disagree with the blind spot mirrors... I point the whole side mirrors at the rear corners. Old habit from trucks without cameras and proximity warning. I find the visibility is good to back up that way. Those fish eyes make it tough to see the crucial corners, great to see if a car is in your blind spot on hiway

 

It'll take a lil gettin used to but you'll get comfy eventually. I'm still trying to get used to the backup camera since my 05 didn't have one. It will be a breeze hooking up a trailer now, for lining up that ball.

 

If I can't back in, I pull through. Period. Non back up camera.

 

I agree these trucks have gotten larger each revision, as I had said in an older post i had a chance to dive an early 2000 F250 that was smaller than our current F150. The next generation F250 from my understanding has the same cab as our F150 as a cost savings measure.

I either pull through or back into parking spots now, your backup camera and sensors will make it a lot easier. I normally drive past the spot and back in, I will try to line it up and use the drivers side mirror where i can see the parking line to help me line up the space and leave about 1 ft between my back tire and the line Im using. I then use the backup camera until I can almost not see the parking line near the bumper and stop there.

I also setup the backup camera to delay so I can put the truck in Reverse to turn on the camera put it in drive to pull forward to make sure Im lined up if im not sure when pulling through a parking spot.